The Irish gambling market entered a new regulatory era on 1 July 2026 when the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 commenced and the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) became the statutory licensing and enforcement body. This page collects the key verified statistics for journalists, researchers and consumers — market size, licensing numbers, enforcement data, and the scale of the unlicensed black market.
At a Glance — Key Statistics
Irish Gambling Market Size
Online (remote) betting stakes with licensed bookmakers reached a record €911.2 million in Q1 2026, with a further €570.3 million staked in betting shops, according to Revenue betting-duty data as reported by Gambling.com. These are stakes (turnover), not operator revenue: the GRAI's annual report estimates gross gambling revenue at €1.17–€2.57 billion for 2025.
The Irish market is dominated by remote (online and telephone) betting. Horse racing and football are the two largest by volume, with GAA and rugby carrying significant betting interest during their respective seasons. The Cheltenham Festival in March and the Grand National in April represent the two biggest single-week spikes in Irish betting activity annually.
| Metric | Figure | Period / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online betting stakes (remote) | €911.2 million | Q1 2026 (Revenue data) |
| Retail betting stakes | €570.3 million | Q1 2026 (Revenue data) |
| Gambling Regulation Act commencement | 1 July 2026 | Commenced in full |
| GRAI Annual Report published | 30 July 2026 | First full GRAI Annual Report |
| Credit card gambling ban effective | 1 July 2026 | All licensed remote operators |
Regulation & Licensing
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) is the independent statutory body established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. GRAI has responsibility for licensing, compliance monitoring, advertising standards, and consumer protection for all gambling in Ireland.
GRAI began issuing remote betting licences following the Act's commencement on 1 July 2026. The licence number format for remote betting is GRAI-XXXX-RB-YY-NNNN — where RB denotes Remote Betting. Licences are verifiable on grai.ie.
| Metric | Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online betting licences issued | 41 (37 remote betting + 4 intermediary), 39 companies | As of 7 November 2026 |
| Casino (gaming) licences issued | 0 | Expected 2027–2028; none applied for yet |
| GRAI annual budget received | €13.35 million | vs €26 million requested |
| GRAI full-time staff | 28 | At 31 Dec 2025 (annual report) |
| In-person betting shop licence deadline | December 2026 | Transitional period for retail shops |
| Licence number format | GRAI-XXXX-RB-YY-NNNN | Remote Betting licences |
Notable Operator Events (2026)
The transition to GRAI licensing in 2026 led to significant changes in which operators are available to Irish consumers. Some operators chose not to apply for GRAI licences and exited the Irish market; others paused operations pending their licence application outcome.
| Event | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Gambling Regulation Act 2024 commenced | 1 July 2026 | GRAI became active licensing authority |
| Credit card gambling ban effective | 1 July 2026 | Applies to all GRAI-licensed remote operators |
| Betfred paused Irish operations | 30 June 2026 | Ahead of GRAI commencement date |
| Stake.com geo-blocked Ireland | September 2026 | Restricted Irish access; not GRAI-licensed |
| GRAI Annual Report published | 30 July 2026 | First report under new statutory authority |
| Partner operator licence issued | 16 September 2026 | GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001, valid to 15 Sep 2029 |
| Operators under investigation | 100+ (reported) | As of late 2026 |
Enforcement Powers
Under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, GRAI has significant enforcement powers against unlicensed operators targeting Irish consumers:
| Enforcement Measure | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum fine (unlicensed operating) | €20 million or 10% of annual turnover, whichever is greater |
| Website blocking | GRAI can require ISPs to block unlicensed operator domains |
| Payment blocking | GRAI can require payment processors to block transactions to unlicensed sites |
| Advertising prohibition | Unlicensed operators may not advertise to Irish consumers |
| Criminal referral | Serious cases may be referred for criminal prosecution |
The Black Market Problem
Ireland's new regulatory framework is partly a response to the scale of unlicensed gambling activity. Industry research estimates that across Europe, approximately 70% of online betting volume passes through unlicensed operators, representing around €80 billion annually and involving an estimated 6,000 unlicensed operator sites.
Irish consumers who bet with unlicensed sites:
- Have no access to GRAI's consumer complaints process
- Have no statutory protection if the operator refuses to pay
- May have no recourse for responsible gambling tools (deposit limits, self-exclusion)
- Risk using sites with no independent game fairness verification
The GRAI licensed bookmakers list on CraicBet is updated regularly so Irish punters can verify operator status before depositing.
Responsible Gambling Data
The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 introduced mandatory responsible gambling requirements for all GRAI-licensed operators, including deposit limits, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion. All licensed operators must display the 18+ age restriction and must provide access to self-exclusion tools.
CraicBet's Partner Operator Licence
CraicBet links exclusively to our partner operator, which holds a valid GRAI remote betting licence. Licence details:
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Licence number | GRAI-0191-RB-26-0001 |
| Licence type | Remote Betting (not casino) |
| Issue date | 16 September 2026 |
| Expiry date | 15 September 2029 |
| Verifiable at | grai.ie |
Frequently Asked Questions
Online betting stakes with licensed bookmakers reached €911.2 million in Q1 2026 (Revenue data), with €570.3 million more staked in shops; the GRAI estimates 2025 gross gambling revenue at €1.17–€2.57 billion. These figures exclude black-market activity. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 commenced on 1 July 2026, bringing the market under GRAI as the statutory regulator.
As of November 2026, GRAI has issued 41 online betting licences (37 remote betting, 4 betting intermediary). These are BETTING licences only (licence category GRAI-XXXX-RB-YY-NNNN). Zero casino licences have been issued; GRAI has not yet opened applications for remote casino licences, which are expected to become available in 2027–2028.
An estimated 70% of European betting volume passes through unlicensed operators — approximately €80 billion annually across ~6,000 unregulated sites. Irish consumers using unlicensed sites have no GRAI consumer protection and no recourse if disputes arise. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 introduced penalties of up to €20 million or 10% of annual turnover for unlicensed operators targeting Ireland.
Related Guides
- GRAI Licensed Bookmakers Ireland 2026
- GRAI Licence Explained — What It Means for Irish Punters
- Betting Sites Ireland 2026
- Responsible Gambling Tools in Ireland
- Credit Card Gambling Ban Ireland